I recently completed my PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering under the guidance of Prof. Matthew DeLisa at Cornell University. My research lies at the intersection of engineering, synthetic biology, and glycobiology, where I focus on converting bacteria into tiny factories capable of efficiently producing inexpensive and customized therapeutic glycoproteins on demand, including monoclonal antibodies and conjugate vaccines. Notably, my work represents the first successful example of full-length human antibody glycosylation in bacteria.

Driven by my motivation to develop therapeutics and healthcare innovations that make a real-world impact, I actively sought opportunities during my PhD to expand my skills in entrepreneurship and leadership. A key example is the global biotechnology entrepreneurship competition Voices of Tomorrow held during GapSummit at the University of Cambridge. There, I led our team to develop AllVax, a startup concept that leverages bacterial cell-free glycoprotein synthesis to produce conjugate vaccines at the point of care. We pitched AllVax to a panel of expert investors and ultimately won first place among 20 teams.

My previous experiences include developing eco-friendly bacterial bioprocesses for environmental applications, such as biodegrading free cyanide from gold mine wastewater and bio-oxidizing refractory concentrates for gold recovery.

Ph.D., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, USA

M.S., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, USA             

B.S., Chemical Engineering, Universidad Técnica de Loja, Ecuador                          

B.A., Music, Violin. Conservatory of Music Salvador Bustamante Celi, Ecuador   

Education